Reese Witherspoon's father, John, is facing a bigamy lawsuit from her mother.

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The Hollywood star's mother, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Witherspoon, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Davidson County against her husband, John Witherspoon, seeking to have his new marriage annulled and accusing him of bigamy.

Betty Witherspoon says John Witherspoon can't be married to Tricianne Taylor — a woman he appeared with in a wedding announcement in The Tennessean last month — because he is still married to her.

The April 22 announcement said John Witherspoon and Tricianne Taylor married Jan. 14 in Gatlinburg, Tenn., and a summer reception in Nashville is planned.

"Cowboy boots and yellow roses accented the ambiance of the couple's Texas heritage," the paid announcement read. "The bride's full-length formal ivory satin gown featured a sequin-braided halter neckline. The groom wore a white linen suit accented with a gold Parthenon tie, gift from the bride."

John Witherspoon, 70, and Taylor, 60, applied for their marriage license in Davidson County on Jan. 11, three days before the ceremony, according to records.

Before that, Taylor and John Witherspoon applied for a marriage license in Rutherford County on July 6, 2011, records show. It was never returned to the county. Marriage applications in Tennessee are only valid for 30 days.

Taylor is from Lascassas in Rutherford County and has been married twice before. It is unclear how the two met.

According to the wedding announcement, she is active in veterans affairs and is the former president and CEO of Action Designs Inc.

The salon business was run out of a house in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Rutherford County property records show Taylor still owns the property with her ex-husband.

In her lawsuit, Betty Witherspoon said she still loves her husband and does not want a divorce. The lawsuit is filed against both her husband and Taylor.

She described her husband as troubled. She said he has battled problems with alcohol, hoarding and overspending, according to the lawsuit. He owns at least five motorcycles, five boats and recently bought a Cadillac.

"When I confronted my husband, he said he didn't know who Tricianne Taylor was and that he did not remember getting married," she said in an affidavit filed in court.

When she tried to confront Taylor, the woman refused to talk to her and did not respond to a letter informing her that John Witherspoon was married and had two children and four grandchildren, according to the affidavit.

"But she clearly knows now that she is married to a man who is not divorced," the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, friends told Betty Witherspoon that they spotted John Witherspoon with Taylor at an Octoberfest event and he attempted to bring the woman to Reese Witherspoon's wedding in California.

"The security officers at the wedding refused to let her in because she was not on the guest list," according to the affidavit.

In addition, Betty Witherspoon said she fears Taylor is trying to borrow money as Ms. John Witherspoon and will transfer her marital assets.

Betty Witherspoon said in court documents that Taylor has gotten John Witherspoon to change his will. She already is living in a Nashville condo owned by Reese Witherspoon, according to the court documents.

"I also fear for my husband's personal safety and the safety of my family," Betty Witherspoon said. She believes her husband is suffering from early onset dementia, court records show.

Betty Witherspoon is seeking to have the marriage annulled and Taylor barred from removing or converting any assets owned by John Witherspoon.

She asked the court to force Taylor to return any vehicles, jewelry or other property acquired during the void marriage, court records show.

Betty Witherspoon's attorney did not return a message seeking comment. John Witherspoon also did not return a recent message. Taylor could not be reached for comment.

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